WAIOHOU MAN FIGHTS WOUNDED STAG BARE HANDED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 32, 31 August 1949, Page 5

WAIOHOU MAN FIGHTS WOUNDED STAG BARE HANDED

Up the Waiohou Gorge they breed ’em tough. Sunday evening one of the citizens killed a deer by holding its nose under water until it drowned. Though it sounds a tall yarn, all the evidence is convincing, and it has to be admitted that stranger things have happened. With a pea rifle and two rounds of .22 ammunition, Mr J. Corbett, farm worker, had set out on Sunday evening to see if he could bowl over a hare or rabbit, when a fullygrown stag popped into view in front of him.

Naturally, Mr Corbett slung his first slug into the tempting target, and felt a surge of elation in the breast when it dropped. However, it was up again smartly, and heading over the steep bank of a creek when he fired his second and last round.

Hot foot in pursuit, the hunter reached the bank and saw his victim had gone down again beside the creek, but was even then struggling to its feet. Hot-blooded with the excitement of the chase, he leapt upon his prey, landing on its back as it headed up the bank. They came down in a writhing heap, rolled to the stream, where Mr Corbett got a strangle hold on his 11 threshing adversary and forced its nose under the water. There he held it until its frenzied struggles ceased.

Any scars of battle? Apart from a jab on the ear and a substantial portion ripped out of his pants, the intrepid hunter escaped unscathed.